Tensions rise with Trump pressure on Denmark over Greenland
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Officials revealed that the Danish Prime Minister had a "terrible" discussion with the US president regarding the acquisition of Greenland.
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Donald Trump Jr arrived in Nuuk, Greenland on 7 January 2025 aboard a private jet as his father as president-elect talked about the US' need to acquire Greenland. (AFP)
US President Donald Trump has renewed his push to acquire Greenland, reportedly pressing the idea in a tense phone call with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
According to the Financial Times, the 45-minute conversation last week before his inauguration was described by European officials as "horrendous" and "a cold shower."
Despite Frederiksen's reiteration that Greenland is not for sale, Trump maintained a confrontational tone and responded firmly, particularly after Denmark offered to discuss expanded military cooperation instead.
One official remarked that the conversation left the Danish side "utterly freaked out," especially when threats of targeted tariffs were mentioned. Initially, European officials had viewed Trump's comments about acquiring Greenland as a bargaining chip to exert more influence in the Arctic, but the call dispelled those assumptions.
Greenland to expand its defense agreement with US, without Denmark
Greenland seeks to broaden its defense agreement with the US independently, without Denmark’s involvement, Greenlandic MP Kuno Fencker stated in an interview with RIA Novosti on Sunday.
"We are a de facto NATO country, through Denmark. The United States has a military presence. We have a defense agreement between Denmark and the United States. We want to resume that, but only with a defense agreement between Greenland and the United States. And we can conclude an agreement with Denmark separately. We can even conclude a bilateral agreement with the EU. The options are open," he said.
Citing a secret report from the Danish Armed Forces, Dutch broadcaster TV2 reported on Wednesday that Denmark plans to build an air base in western Greenland for a "show of force", as well as to increase the staff of the main headquarters of the Armed Forces Arctic Command in the capital of Nuuk.
In early May 2024, Troels Lund Poulsen, head of the Danish Ministry of Defense, announced that the Danish government was considering bolstering its military presence in Greenland.
It was noted that one possibility being considered was deploying Arctic Command units in Kangerlussuaq. Poulsen emphasized that discussions were ongoing about how the armed forces would develop the local airport.
